Cessna 206 accident near Wichita, Kansas, January 20, 1988
On January 20, 1988 at about 4:50 am local time, a Cessna 206, registered N4978C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita, Kansas (Jabara airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1988 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Jabara · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N4978C · registry record · serial U20603870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT LDG WITH STRONG GUSTY X-WINDS, THE PIC LOST CONTROL DURING THE ROLL OUT AND CAREENED OFF THE RUNWAY SUBSTANTIALY DAMAGING THE ACFT. THE PIC STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS PARTIALLY COATED WITH ICE MAKING FORWARD VISIBILITY DIFFICULT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 382 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 314 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Magnum Management CO INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MHK Manhattan KS at 4:20 am
- Destination: 3KM Wichita KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 27 knots, gusting 44
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:43 am from ICT, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.